Same Data, Different Conclusion

(Proverbs 31:8–9) Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are headed for destruction. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Is the glass half-empty or half-full? We all know that two people can look at the same proverbial glass and draw two entirely different conclusions. One person sees the water level as a harbinger of scarcity, the other as a prelude of plenty. In other words, all of us interpret the data we receive through the lens of our prior assumption. No one processes facts without prejudices. No one.

The diversity of the conclusions drawn from the recent movie, “Gosnell: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer” is a prime example of how our presuppositions shape our conclusions. NBC News quickly pronounced that the movie was a compelling argument for the legitimacy of “trained abortion provider[s].” But pro-life advocates saw the movie as a powerful argument for the sanctity of preborn life, and the illegitimacy of abortion no matter how lawful or pristine. Same data, different conclusions.

During a courtroom scene in the movie, a very professional looking woman doctor takes the witness stand and freely admits to performing over 30,000 abortions. As Gosnell’s attorney questions the doctor, he argues that killing a recently-born baby is really no different than killing a baby in the womb. But pro-lifers see the similarities of killing preborn babies and newly-born babies as proof of the wrongfulness of abortion. Same data, different conclusions.

So, what are the different presuppositions that lead pro-choicers and pro-lifers to entirely different conclusions as they consider the same abortion-related data? Both agree that the preborn child in the mother’s womb is immature human life; a being that if allowed to mature will grow into a fully-formed human being. Same data.

Pro-choicers believe that women, by virtue of their superior size, strength and cognitive abilities have the right to end the life of the smaller, weaker, less-aware human life in their wombs. Pro-lifers deny that “might makes right” and that God (and any sane civil society) requires those who possess superior size, strength and cognitive abilities to exercise those gifts to provide for, and protect, those who lack them. Different conclusions.

God’s laws, and indeed the laws of every just society, are designed to protect the interests of those who cannot protect themselves. And that is why those who truly love justice are ever-eager to speak out for, and to defend, “the mute…who are headed for destruction.”

Gene Helsel, pastor 

King’s Cross Church
Pro-Life Pastors NCW